Everything you always wanted to know about Kimono

Hi everyone,

my hostmother had a fitting with a Kimono teacher last week and I got a lot of explanation about everything surrounding this very traditional clothing. Now I would like to give you the opportunity to learn something more.

Did you know that Kimono (着物) just means thing to wear ("kiru" 着る meaning to wear and "mono" 物 just means thing) but in reality it is much more than that. People who are interested in Japan often know that there are different kinds of Kimono, for example the so called "summer Kimono" the Yukata. But Yukata is actually no Kimono in that sense, but was traditionally worn as easier everyday wear. Now you can find Yukata either in traditional Japanese guest houses (Ryokan) to wear after taking a bath or more beautiful ones to wear when going to a summer festival like "Hanami" Fireworks.
I was explained, that there are different kinds of Kimono worn on different occasions and by different people:
The most formal Kimono is the Tomesode, there exists one version in color the Irotomesode and one black one (Kurotomesode). They have beautiful hand drawn patterns or pictures only under the waistline. If they have five family crests they are most formal. The colorful one might have only three or one crest and trough that it becomes less formal. Most often the Tomesode are worn to wedding ceremonies by the family of the bride and groom. While Irotomesode can be worn by married and unmarried women the Kurotomesode is usually only worn by married women.
The Furisode is the most formal Kimono for unmarried women, mostly worn nowadays to the coming of age ceremony (when Japanese turn 20). They have beautiful colorful patterns and very long sleeves.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to wear two different Kimono. The first one is similar to the Kimono a bride wears or a Maiko (Geisha in training). It took a very long time to put it on, and there were a lot of towels, straps, cushions and other things involved in making everything look so nice. Wearing a Kimono is actually not very comfortable, it's hard to breath and the Kimono is actually very heavy. I don't envy those girls who have to wear a Kimono every day.
The second Kimono was a Hakama, traditionally worn only to graduation ceremony and sports like Kyudo, Aikido and Kendo. It was much easier to put an and was more comfortable to wear. You might have seen some Shinto Shrine Maidens (Miko) wear red Hakama over white Kimono, their traditional clothing.